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REPORT OF 
MEETING OF STATE COMMITTEES OF 

THE MEDICAL SECTION 

OF THE 



WITH THE 



STATE ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE AND 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 

MAY 4 AND 5 1918 






Id 










WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRLSTING OFFICE 

1918 






D. of ©• 
JUN 19 1918 



MEETING OF STATE COMMITTEES OF MEDICAL SECTION, COUNCIL 
OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, WITH STATE ACiiVITiES COMMITTEE 
AND GENERAL MEDICAL BOARD. 



Three hundred physicians and surgeons, members of the State and County Com- 
mittees of the Medical Section of the Council of National Defense, representing every 
State in the Union except one, met at the New Willard in Washington on Saturday 
and Sunday, May 4 and 5, called together by Dr. Franklin Martin, chairman of the 
General Medical Board of the Council of National Defense. 

Attention was focused on two important subjects: Increased enrollment in the Med- 
ical Reserve Corps of the Army and Navy; definite plans for the enrollment in tlie 
Vohmteer Medical Service Corps of those physicians not available for active military 
service to meet the medical needs of the whole Nation; and, in particular, to provide 
adequate medical ser\'ice for our great war industries. 

Pleas for the immediate enrollment of 5,000 additional members of the Medical 
Reserve Corps of the Army and 1,000 for the Naval Reserve Force were made by 
Surgs. Gen. Gorgas and Braisted. Members of the State and County Committees 
were urged to increase their activities as the authorized governmental agencies for 
the mobilization of the Nation's medical resources. 

MORNING SESSION. 

The meeting on Saturday morning was called to order by Dr. Franklin Martin, 
chairman of the General Medical Board, who called to the chair Maj. Edward Martin, 
of Philadelphia, chau'man of the State Activities Committee. 

The Council oath of office was administered to members of the Statr^ committees, 
conlirming them in their official capacity as the authorized representatives o- the 
Council of National Defense. 

In his address of welcome Maj. F. F. Simison, vice chairman of the board, called 
attention to the fact that one year previous to the entry of this Nation into the war, a 
national committee on medical preparedness was organized and under its direction 
the State and County Committees were called into service, these State and County 
Committees being taken over as a part of the Medical Section of the Council of Na- 
tional Defense upon the organization of that body. 

Surg. Gen. Gorgas spoke of the organization of the Jiledical Reserve Corps and -ts 
expansion during the war, until it now includes 20,000 members through the activ.ties 
of the Medical Section of the Council of National Defense; expressed his appreciation 
for the great work already accomplished and in anticipation oi its continued activi- 
ties along the same lines, which would insure an ever-increasing supply of men for 
the Reserve Corps. He called attention to the immediate need for 5,000 additional 
men in the Reserve Corps and stated that he had just received a pre-ssin^ call irom 
Gen. Pershing, asking that 500 medical men be forwarded immediately to i' ranee. 
" If the men will come in now," said Gen. Gorgas, "500 will stand the chance of 2:oin'j: 
to France at once, and as there will be numerous requests, nearly everyone can go to 
France. A few good men must always remain on this side. I am glad to express my 
gratitude for the assistance you are going to give us in the next two or three months." 
58453='— 18 (3) 



Admiral Braisted urged the needs of the Medical Reserve Corps of the Navy. 
"Needs not quite so large as the Army's, but just as necessary. What we need is a 
gradual, constant influx of splendid medical personnel to meet the needs of our service. 
The work seems greater than it did a year ago. More and more the work is expanding 
and growing into new fields. We shall need in this new year every bit of help we can 
get. This great Council of National Defense stands as the leading organization to help 
us in our work in the war. " 

Mr. W. S. GiFFORD, Director of the Council, referred to the legal authorization of 
the work of the Council, that "it was to create a relation that would bring about in 
time of need the immediate concentration and utilization of the resources of the 
Nation. We have considered that it included the medical resources of the Nation 
as well as industrial and other resources. In Washington we would have a directing 
and guiding agency, but that the work must be done by the people of the country. " 

Mr. Julius Rosenwald, member of the Advisory Commission, expressed his appre- 
ciation of the work of the medical men of the Nation. "1 believe no people are making 
a greater sacrifice than the physicians of this country. They deserve, as I have said 
frequently, the appreciation of the public and the Nation more than any other 
branch. " 

Col. Caldwell, of the Surgeon General's Office, presented figures as to the number 
of medical men in active ser\Tlce in the various corps: Medical Corps, 843; Medical 
Reserve Corps, 16,552; Medical Corps, National Guard, 1,027; Medical Corps, National 
Army, 114. He congratulated the profession upon the fact that this "aggregate of 
medical officers had been contributed to the Medical Department of the Army by 
purely voluntary effort. It is the desire of the Surgeon General of the Army, in so 
far as the medical profession will consent to, and will volunteer to do, to mobilize 
the medical personnel of the country for the purpose of our military uses. This will 
best be accomplished by all medical men who are able-bodied, who are professionally 
competent, and who can leave their civil activities without sacrificing the activities 
of the community, industry, or corporation to come into the Reserve Corps volun- 
tarily and accept commissions. If this were done, it would be a simple matter for 
the Surgeon General to properly officer the military medical forces with competent 
medical personnel. It would make the task of the Council of National Defense and 
the different Surgeons General very easy in taking care of the civil communities 
wherever they may be in need of competent professional assistance. 

"The Personnel Division of the Surgeon General's Office has arranged to have at 
convenient places — has about completed the arrangement in every State of the 
Union, including the Capital — examining boards for applicants for commissions 
in the Medical Reserve Corps. With this understanding and your efforts when you 
return home to your activities in the different States, tlie Surgeon General feels con- 
fident there will be no question as to the securing of 5,000 additional medical officers 
for the Reserve Corps in the next few months." 

Medical Inspector Murphy explained the need for a large increase in the Navy 
Medical Corps. "At one time last year we found we had sufficient medical officers 
for our needs. At the present time, despite that forecast, we find that we need more, 
and it is hoped that you gentlemen of the State Committees of the Medical Section 
of the Council of National Defense will help us obtain this additional medical j^erson- 
nel. We need a thousand, we calculate, for the coming year. It is hoped that we 
will obtain, with your assistance, at least 100 a month so as to be safe. I would like 
to extend to you again on my part, as the Surgeon General has already done for him- 
self, our appreciation in the Medical Corps of your efforts in oiu- behalf, and trust 
that the future will bring to us your kind assistance once more. At the present time 
there is a bill before Congress increasing the Navy, almost doubling it. We will 
require more men. All new ships built here and everywhere, that no one knows 
about, will need new men. From France we get the request in connection wdth the 



American Expeditionary Force from Gen. Pershing that more naval medical officers 
are needed." 

Maj. John D. McLean spoke on the work of the States Activities Committee, 
referring to the organization of the State Committees a year previous to the entry of 
this Nation into the war and their inclusion in the Medical Section of the Council of 
National Defense upon its organization. He reported in detail the ser\'ice rendered 
by the Committee to the Surgeons General of the Army, Navy, and Public Health, 
in securing detailed information as to men available for membership in th«? Medical 
Reserve Corps and the enrollment of 20,000 medical officers during the past year. 
Through this Committee, in cooperation with the State Committees, has been dis- 
seminated a vast amount of information relating to every asi^ect of the Nation's medi- 
cal activities; in cooperation with the Provost Marshal General's Office it has pre- 
pared rules of procedure for the organization of Medical Advisory Boards, it has 
aided in the selection of Medical Aides for the governors of the several States, and 
formulated plans outlining the specific duties of such Medical Aides. 

This Committee formulated the plans and inaugurated the Volunteer Medical 
Service Corps as authorized by the Council of National Defense. For membership in 
the Corps such physicians are eligible as would be accepted in the Medical Reserve 
Corps of the Army were it not for physical disability, over age, essential public need, 
essential institutional need, or dependents. Women physicians are eligible. The 
object of the Corps is to establish an emergency medical organization to perfonn, when 
required, such civic and military duties as are not provided for. State governing 
boards consist of the members of the State Committees of the Medical Section of the 
Council of National Defense, and from this board in each State are selected five men 
who act as an executive committee to pass upon applications for membership. Upon 
their recommendation, applications are passed to the Central Governing Board in 
Washington. Each member of the Corps, during active membership, is entitled to 
wear the insignia of the Corps, as authorized by the Council of National Defense. 

The officers of the Corps are as follows: President, Dr. Edward P. Davis; Vice Presi- 
dent, Dr. Henry H. Sherk; Acting Secretary, Dr. John D. McLean. The Central 
Governing Board includes the above-named officers, Dr. Edward H. Bradford, Dr. 
Truman W. Brophy, Dr. Duncan Eve, Sr., Dr. William Duffield Robinson, Dr. George 
David Stewart, and ex-ofhcio. Dr. Franklin Martin and Dr. F. F. Simpson. 

Dr. Edward P. Davis, of Pliiladelpliia, spoke of the purpose of the Volunteer 
Medical Service Corps. "Would it not be a source of inspiration, gratification, and 
pleasure if we were organized in the service of our Government, and if we had some- 
thing to show for that organization? Those of you who are on Medical Advisory 
Boards for the selective-service enlistment have been doing splendid work which is 
typical of this class of men. Others of you are teachers in medical colleges. Others 
are holding positions in great city hospitals, where their absence would leave the hos- 
pital sadly crippled. There are many activities along the lines of executive, educa- 
tional, and institutional work, and other tilings in which we can serve. You may be 
asked to go to a neighboring camp as consultant. During that work you will be coop- 
erating actively with the Government, and you will have an insignia worn in your 
buttonhole, and this will identify you as an officer of the Unitecf States Government 
upon temporary active duty." 

Dr. Harry M. Sherman, of San Francisco; Dr. H. H. Martin, of Savannah; Dr. Charles 
E. Kahlke, of Cliicago; Dr. J. A. Witherspoon, of Nashville; Dr. Rock Sleyster, of 
Waupun, Wis.; and Dr. George D. Stewart, of New York, told of the progress of the 
work of the State Committees in their several States. 

Dr. Franklin Martin spoke feelingly of the situation in England and France and 
their great need of doctors, and of the work of the American surgeons in the war zone. 

"In those hospital clearing stations back of the lines, our men — men who were in 
this fight early and were over there first — the best men we have — are working tvo 



6 

shifts from 12 to 12. Do they stop at the end of the shift? No; they work from 12 
to 12 and then go on. They sleep three or four hours and then go on again. For a 
half mile outside of these hospitals men are waiting to be operated upon. They send 
out the orderlies and\ell them to bring in the worst. That is the job 'over there.' 

"Do you realize that the Government did better than it knew and that Congress 
probably did better than it knew when it passed the law establishing the Council of 
National Defense? When war came on, fortunately, we had a little part in that 
Council of National Defense. What was our first thing to do? To help the bureaus 
and departments to expand as rapidly as possible in preparing for the coming war, 
and when war came, to still further expand those departments. 

"You had been working one year before war began, under Dr. Simpson and Dr. 
Mayo. You had worked so well that as soon as the Council of National Defense was 
organized — at its first meeting— I asked them to take over this organization as the 
Medical Section of the Council, and from that time it became a part of the Council of 
National Defense. The resolution was passed, and at that minute you became just 
as much Government officers as though you had been receiving a salary and had a 
definite appointment. Do not think that the President does not know everything of 
importance that happens at each meeting of the General Medical Board, and every- 
thing of importance that is announced from the activities of these committees. He is 
deeply interested, as I know from conversation with him. He knows the subject from 
the beginning in April, 1916 — a year before the war began — until the day before 
yesterday, and he regrets exceedingly that he is not here this morning to say how 
inuch he appreciates what you have done for him. He wants you to know that you 
are the authorized organization to carry on this work in connection with the depart- 
ments of the Government. I quote from a personal letter: 

" 'Thank you for telling me of the approaching meeting of the State Committees of 
the Medical Section, Council of National Defense. Will you not be kind enough to 
convey to them, when they convene, a message of sincere appreciation from me of 
their services as authorized governmental agencies to the Army, Navy, Public Health 
Service, and American Red Cross, and of the part they have played in the preparation 
for war? Will you not at the same time convey to them my warm personal greetings? ' 

"And from another letter: 

" 'The papers which you submitted to me show a x^ery impressive and valuable 
activity on the part of the Committee on Medicine and Sanitation of the Council of 
National Defense, and I want to congratulate you and your associates on the com- 
mittee for the vigorous activities you have shown in this important matter. 

" 'The Council of National Defense and the Advisory Commission were authorized 
by Congress for the clear purpose of bringing about exchanges of opinion on funda- 
mental problems, and it seems wise to continue the excellent work done by the com- 
mittee legally constituted for the purpose without attempting to replace or duplicate, 
if not to confuse, its counsel.' 

"In organizing these committees and the original committee that became the Gen- 
eral Medical Board we have insisted upon only one thing, that any organization any- 
where could suggest members to the General Medical Board, and if those members 
were approved by the General Medical Board they would be accepted as individuals 
and not as members of an outside organization, because as soon as they became mem- 
bers of the General Medical Board, and as soon as you became members of the State 
Committees of the Medical Section, you became Government officials. 

"The one thing we have gotten you here for more than anything else is to change 
your attitude from that of complacency to that of the man who is at the front and has 
gotten up his wind for the fight. When you go back home, get the members of your 
committee together and do the work we want you to do as promptly as possible, 
and convey the results to us as promptly.'' 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 

Dr. Edward Martin, Chairman: ''The purpose of this meeting is to justify our 
existence. At the meeting in Chicago last fall, attended so largely by you, there 
was probably more constructive work done than at any medical meeting in this 
country, and the plans there suggested have been going on steadily every day since. 
First, we wish to formulate a plan by which we may deliver to the Surgeon General 
of the Army 5,000 medical men before the 1st of July, and probably many more within 
the next year. To do that requires much wisdom, much time, and an absolutely 
concentrated effort on the part of everyone of us. The first 5,000 will be easy. The 
next 10,000 will be most difficult. But you men can do it. It is our feeling that 
the only way we can get men is man to man, from you to them. Your Central Com- 
mittee met yesterday and laid out a tentative scheme upon which we want your 
constructive criticism and help. We feel that if we can get together on this matter 
we can give the Surgeon General the men he wants, and the tentative scheme is this: 
That each State Committee, with the help of the County Committees where this seems 
desirable, take their tabulated lists of the profession in their State and select from 
that list twice as many men as will be wanted in this first call, and notify each one of 
those men, preferably by personal interview by the Chairman, or by interview on 
the part of one of the County Committeemen, or if not that by letter, telling, in the first 
place, of the broad general need, and, in the second place, of the immediate, pressing, 
and urgent need, and, in the third place, that he has been selected by the State Com- 
mittee as the man to at once apply for a commission and subject himself to the orders 
of the Surgeon General. That seems a simple, comprehensive way, and seems per- 
haps applicable to this whole country. The problem is different in each State, and 
each State must settle it for themselves. 

" Suppose the man refuses. What is your next step? We will then ask you to send 
his name to the Committee's office in Washington. He will then receive a direct 
appeal to enlist because you have said he should. Suppose he refuses. We have 
nothing more to say, but we believe that any man who after that refuses to go into 
the service will find hell a more comfortable place. So you have them. At the 
first no violence but the kindest treatment, but if needful I have the greatest confi- 
dence in the medical profession. We want no such man among us. It is needful 
that these men should receive certain definite information in regard to the require- 
ments, the cost of equipment, salary, chance of advancement, and that has been 
formulated and will be sent to each one of you. We believe that every man between 
21 and 31 should be in the service of the United States. If one of our profession has 
been taken in the selective service and put on the deferred fist because of depend- 
ents, that is no impediment where enlistment in the Medical Reserve Corps is con- 
cerned. Nor has any man under 31 the right to be so prosperous that he can do much 
better by himself than the United States can do by him financially. We are after 
them. Our honor is involved. Our duty is to get them, and you will do it." 

Thereafter followed a lively discussion of the numerous problems arising out of the i 
Avork of the State and County Committees. The difficulties that have arisen in certain 
States with regard to the examination of applicants for the Medical Reserve Corps 
will be solved by a new plan of the Surgeons General for increasing the number of 
medical examiners and stationing them at a larger number of convenient points in 
each State, as explained by Col. Caldwell. The complete details of this plan, includ- 
ing the location and personnel of the examining boards, will be forwarded to the State 
Committees. 

It was explained that under the present law the examination of applicants for the 
Medical Reserve Corps must be made by commissioned officers of the Medical Corps 
or Medical Reserve Corps. Suggestions that members of the Volunteer Medical 
Service Corps might be authorized to conduct such examinations, thereby relieving 



men for active service, brought forth a lively discussion and will be considered by 
the Committee. 

Methods pursued in various States to secure complete data as to available men for 
active service Avere explained and discussed, as well as methods adopted to secure 
enrollment. Publicity in the newspapers was suggested as a most effective means. 
The quota of men desired from each County having been determined by the State 
Committee, the figures should be published in comparison with the medical popula- 
tion. These facts having been brought to the attention of each community, public 
opinion will supply the needed influence. 

In answer to many questions concerning service in the Medical Reserve Corps, 
such as rank, pay, special work, etc., the State Activities Committee has had printed 
a "List of Questions and Anaipers" which is to be distributed through the State and 
County Committees. Copies of the pamphlet on War Risk Insurance, as issued by 
the Treasury Department, may be had on application to the Committee's office in 
Washington. 

In reply to many questions as to the status of a physician under 31 years of age who 
had not received a commission in the Medical Reserve Corps because of physical 
disability and afterwards drawn into military service by the local advisory boards, 
it was pointed out that where such a physician had been sent into a camp and accepted 
by the surgeon in charge and enlisted as a soldier, he should notify his superior 
medical officer that he has applied for a commission in the Medical Reserve Corps. 
He will then be reexamined and the Surgeon General will give him a commission 
even if rejected by the medical examiner, except that he might be rejected on moral 
grounds. Col. Caldwell, of the Surgeon General's Office,- stated that "In every 
instance where a man has been actually enlisted in the army as a private the Surgeon 
General will commission him in the Medical Reserve Corps." 

Senator Owen of Oklahoma was introduced. "It gives mo a peculiar pleasure to 
have the opportunity of paying my respects to you and to your great profession. 
Nearly all of my people are surgeons and I have always taken a very lively interest 
in the profession. 

"In the matter of preserving the lives of the young men we have drawn from the 
American homes and have sent to defend liberty and righteousness and humanity 
on the battle fields of Europe, I think it would be impossible for us to take too good 
care of them. For that reason I have particularly interested myself in having the 
organization of the Med^'cal Department of the Army and the Medical Reserve Corps 
given the dignity and rank and position which will enal)le them to render the service 
which is required at their hands. In appearing before the subcommittee a day or 
two ago presenting the argument, I called attention to the fact that the organization 
of the Medical Department of the Arm.y had by statute one brigadier general, who, 
during the life of Gen. Gorgas, should be a major general, but when he passes from this 
terrestrial sphere of usefulness, it will be as a brigadier general if the law stands. 
Under that organization in this war, under our present quota of troops, under Gen. 
Gorgas will be 20,000 officers, 50,000 nurses, over 200,000 enlisted men, probably 
500,000 beds, allowing one bed to every four soldiers as the peak load, as we must be 
prepared for the maximum and not the minimum. We can not average the casualties 
of battle, but this great force, under the present organization of the Medical Depart- 
ment of the Army, omitting what the General Staff might be good enough to recom- 
mend to the President of the United States in regard to the Reserve Corps, is one 
general officer. I presented to the committee the organizations of the medical depart- 
ments of the I'rench Army, the British Army, the Japanese Army, and of all of the 
armies of the civilized nations of the world, but those three nations I refer to now have 
in general officers in the medical organization of those armies an average of more than 
twice as many as I have sought to obtain in the organization of our own Army, Some 
men are thoughtless enough to think that in asking for these general officers it is a 



9 

contest of individuals for rank. It is not a contest of individuals for rank. I do not 
regard the rank of major general as conferring any additional dignity upon Crile 
or Mayo. The value of these dignities is to enable the men charged with gigantic 
responsibilities and preservation of men the ability to better discharge their functions. 

"I called the attention of the committee to the fact that one ci^dlized nation after 
another had found it necessary in organizing the medical departments of their armies 
to give more than twice as many general officers as is sought for in this bill now desired 
for the better organization of our Medical Department. Will you forget, and will the 
country forget what occurred at Chickamauga under that dear old general officer, 
Brooke, the good old American soldier, but who had about as much knowledge of 
typhoid fever as a Kamchatkan has of the internal constitution of the ecumenical 
council? You may remember that one-quarter of his entire command had typhoid 
fever, that nearly a thousand picked, healthy, strong, fresh young men died of tyi^hoid 
fever in that camp. Why? Because the medical officer in charge had no rank; 
because the line officer in charge disregarded the earnest, repeated recommendations 
of the medical officers who were without rank. That is why, and the young men died 
like flies. The medical officers made the right recommendations, but the officers of 
the line could plead as an extenuating circumstance that they were entirely ignorant 
of what would happen if they disregarded these orders. The line officer is left respons- 
ible for the health, without any moral or ethical responsibility, and can not be punished 
imder the organization. If a line officer could be held before a military court-martial 
when men died under his command, it would be a far better method of organization. 

"I v.'ant to say to you briefly that I believe now that the committees of Congress 
have at last understood that this desired organization of the Medical Department of 
the Army was for the sole patriotic purpose of saving the lives of the American soldiers, 
and the responsibility is now on the members of that committee, and on the Senate 
and House. I believe they will discharge their resi:)onsibilities wisely and well, if 
you give them proper attention. " 

DINNER AT ARMY .\ND NAVY CLUB. 

In the evening a dinner was given at the Army and Navy Club for the General 
Medical Board and members of the State and County Committees, Dr. Franklin 
Martin being toastmaster. Dr. Edward P. Da\is, of Philadelphia, responded to the 
toast, "The President, our Commander in Chief, " as follows: 

"These are stirring days, and days of man-power. And it is of peculiar significance 
to citizens of those United States that to-day the most powerful man in the world is 
the President of this Republic. And one may well ask, ' On what food hath this, our 
Caesar, fed, that he hath grown so great?' 

"We are men of education, and as such to us the development, the personality, the 
character, of Woodrow Wilson are, aside from presidential interest, of surpassing im- 
portance, lie has fed upon education. There was, to begin with, the healthy child, 
the brain fibered in faith, bred in plain li\'ing and high thinking. But his education 
was peculiar, and in no small degree is his present prominence due to that. 

"He was educated especially by his father, and there was a peculiar and most 
beautiful relationship of the influence of the older upon the growing mind. He 
has often said that he was allowed to make no statement the accuracy of which he 
could not demonstrate by reference to a book; and in dining with him he has remarked 
that owing to this habit of his father, at the conclusion of a meal, where conversation 
was had with the children, the dining room looked like a book shop; for if a child 
made a statement and the father challenged it, if the child could produce a reference 
proving the statement, he stood acquitted. The accuracy of his knowledge, which 
has surprised those who deal with him, is due largely to that method of education. 
His literary style was the constant subject of his father's care and training, and the 
father instilled into this lad the passionate love of the people of these United States. 



10 

With a desire to know history and statesmanship, and those factors which led to the 
founding of the country and to its extraordinary growth, and coupled with accuracy 
of knowledge and power of expression, came his natural desire to voice his thoughts. 
The speeches of John Bright were his early study, and he has often told me of getting 
the key to his father's church on week days, going in and mounting the pulpit, and 
there declaiming John Bright's and others' speeches. And are you then surprised 
that he has taken as his creed of statesmanship the words in which Bright expressed 
the sum of his political wisdom: 

" 'When hopes fail, turn to the people.' 

"He has changed, in my friendship with liim of forty years, less than any man I 
know. He has grown by development, by accretion of knowledge, by strengthening 
of power, but he was in his college days a great democrat. His friends were the 
men of mind and heart, not of power or place or wealth. It was said of him then, 
as can now be said, nothing human is foreign to him, for he was the most human of 
us all, i love of humor, in friendship, in everything which pertained to us all; and 
added to that, the power of reason, the gift of expression, the utter carelessness of the 
little things, as to whether he stood high or low in the class — he was the man, the 
human fellow, dear friend. 

"This an, then, by his steady process of evolution demonstrates to-daj^ the value 
of education as does to my knowledge no other li\'ing man. And is he not to us, as 
educated men, an inspiration — is not his development, I mean — an inspiration for 
our sons and those who may come after us? 

"There i- another side, known possibly to few; and that is the side of tender affec- 
tion, of f'rra and abiding friendship, and of passionate faith in those to whom he has 
given his heart; solicitous for others and thinking little of himself. And it has been 
lately a revelation that this schoolmaster, this son of a Presbyterian parson, this man 
who was slow possibly at times because he knew more than his critics and saw farther, 
that this man should suddenly develop power. And when on the first anniversary 
of this war he thrilled the world with the statement that this Republic is now in a 
position where, under the guidance of Almighty God, it will exercise for the bringing 
of justice on earth, power without limit. And the world will find that the blended 
races of our great country will furnish mettle with which to fight the Hun. And one 
may answer the President, as he called for unlimited power^ 
"Strike with the sledge of Justice 

On the anvil of the Lord; 

He has heated hot His furnace. 

He has opened wide His forge, 

He is burning out the dross from men 

With sacrifice and pain, 

He has welded there a bar of steel 

That peace may come again. 

He has given him the fashioning, 

The temper, and the edge, 

Beat out the sword of righteous wrath 

With Justice' fateful sledge." 

Speeches were made by Surg. Gen. Gorgas, Admiral Braisted, Maj. F. F. Simpson, 
Mr. John G. Bowman, Col. Frank Billings, Maj. W. D. Haggard, and Maj. W. W. 
Keen. Maj. Keen said: 

"The two finest things I have heard lately are, first, what the President of the 
United States has said we must do: 'We must exercise force, force, FORGE, to the 
limit.' And the second, the Secretary of War has said we must raise men without 
limit. 



11 

"When I think what our brave allies have done; when I remember that Britain, 
with but 45,000,000 people, has put 0,000,000 men into the army; and France, though 
we haven't the figures, certainly has done as well; when that splendid British and 
French line, with the little help we have been able to give, have stood with their 
backs to the wall, and have resisted the attacks of the Hun, I am filled with the 
utmost admiration for what they have done. No finer an exhibition of bravery, of 
courage, of self-sacrifice, has ever been seen [turning to the British officer present] 
than your British soldiers have made. 

"And where do we stand? We have 105 millions or more, and if we are to put 
into the field in proportion to what Great Britain has done, we should put in 15 
millions; and I trust that will be the minimum that we will be willing to offer in the 
cause of civilization and of justice. 

"You do not forget, I am sure, that the name of 'Hun 'has not been given to the 
German by us. In 1900 when the Kaiser sent his troops to China, during the Boxer 
rebellion, what did he say to his troops? 'Take no prisoners; give no quarter; be more 
terrible than Attilaand his Huns!' He gave the name of 'Hun,' and they have bet- 
tered his instruction. They have not taken prisoners. They have not given quarter, 
even. All the barbarities we have heard that have been perpetrated by Germany 
I could not believe at first. I had ^larm German friends, whom I appreciated and 
thought well of. But the evidence to me from personal knowledge, my friends, 
has been absolutely convincing, and I do not believe that there is any atrocity that 
has been told us that has not been true. 

"And what is more, they are debasing their own people. You know to-day, and I 
know, from irrefutable testimony, that they are debauching their own women, and 
that the next generation of Germans will be largely a generation of bastards. Shall 
we not fight — fight to the death— against such barbarities, against such cruelties? 

"There is but one thing for us to do, gentlemen. To answer the President of the 
United States, and use force, force to the limit. Force, until we have victory. And 
there is one comfort that I always have, even in the dark days we are passing through 
now. I do believe in the existence of God. And I do not believe that it is in the 
plan of Divine Providence that the whole world shall be ground under the heel of 
the barbarous Hun! 

"The other day I saw in a circular something that impressed me greatly: 'The 

Inspiration of Disaster.' Think of it! We may come, gentlemen, to the days, 

even now, when disaster may come to our brave allies, and to our own brave boys 

. on the other side. But the inspiration of disaster will be om'S, and we will swear by 

the Almighty God that nothing shall intervene between us and victory.'- 



GENERAL MEDICAL BOARD. 

Annual Meeting, Sunday, May 5, 1918. 

After roll call for members of the General Medical Board, the Council oath of ofTice 
was administered to those present who had not preAdously taken the oath. 

Dr. Franklin Martin, chairman: " This is the annual meetinq- of the General 
Medical Board of the Council of National Defense. We have with us as guestv<5, mem- 
bers of the State Committees of the Council. Before proceeding with the regular 
business of the morning, I wish to introduce to you a man who is not a ])hysician, but 
who is in the United States Senate and is on the Military Affairs Committee of the 
Senate; one who has listened to the argimients of some of us in regard to the feasibility 
of increased rank for medical officers." • 

Senator Sutherland, of ^^'est A'irginia: "I know that this body is held for business 
purposes, gathered together in connection with the Council of National Defense in 
order to prepare for entrance into service a larger number of physicians throughout 
the country. Upon you is laid a very important service. I don't know of any body 
of men in the country who are sacrificing more for the good of the country than you 
doctors and surgeons. I have listened with great interest and profit to the discussions 
before the Senate by your able representatives who have appeared before the Military 
Affairs Committee, including the distinguished gentleman to my left, Gen. Gorgas, 
and those who assist him. J have been very much impressed with the justice of the 
claims of the medical profession for increased rank at the hands of the Government. 
So far as 1 am able to do so, I will do what I can to secure that recognition. I believe 
too, that the Committee on Military Affairs, while I can not speak for them except 
as an individual, yet 1 believe the feeling as expressed in the committee is favorable 
to greatly increased recognition." 

Surg. Gen. Gorgas: "It is needless to say how extremely gratifying to all of us is 
the message Senator Sutherland has just given to us. It is probably the most impor- 
tant measure that is now under consideration for the efficiency of the Medical Depart- 
ment. 1 would like to impress upon Senator Sutherland that the Reserve Corps in 
war makes up ninety-odd per cent of our department, and that this bill entirely affects 
the Reserve Corps. ^\ e think that we have given very good reasons for the bill as it 
stands, and we hope it won't be modified too much." 

Ihe Chairman, Dr. Franklin Martin, before reading his annual report called 
attention to the iact that "while the General Medical Board was not authorized and 
did not come into existence until April 6. 1917, these large groups before me, the 
State Committees have been in existence tor two years and the work carried on before 
April 6 of last year was carried on by practically the same men who afterwards became 
the members of the General Medical Board." 

(The Chairman's annual report \\'ill be printed for general distribution.) 

Dr. Martin detailed the routine procedure with regard to matters brought before 
the General lledical Board. They were first discussed before the General Medical 
Board and passed upon at a meeting of the Executive Committee. The Executive 
Committee consists of Dr. Franklin H. Martin, Chaii'man; Dr. F. F. Simpson, Vice 
Chairman; Surg. Gen. Gorgas, Surg. Gen. Braisted, Surg. Gen. Blue, Dr. William J. 
Mayo, Dr. William H. Welch, Dr. Victor C. Vaughan, and Admiral Carj^ T. Grayson. 

(12) 



13 

"When a matter has been considered by the Executive Committee, it is then a 
matter of reference first to the Advisory Commission and tlien to the Council. It the 
matter is there approved, it is sent where it belongs for execution. The General 
Medical Board has met at least once a month durin'j; the year. The Executive Com- 
mittee meets whenever there is anything of importance to consider." 

The Chairman then called for the reports of various committees. 

Dr. Edward P. Davis reported for the Central Governin-;- Board of the Volunteer 
Medical Service Corps. 

Maj. Bascom Johnson told of the work of the Commission on Training Camp 
Activities. 

Dr. William F. Snow presented the report of the Committee on Civilian Cooperation 
in Combating Venereal Disease?. 

Medical Inspector Murphy, of the Naval Medical Corps, reported on the activities 
of that Medical Corps during the year. 

Mr. A. Homer Smith reported for the Committee on Medical Supplie-3, dealing 
])articuU"irly with pharmaceuticals. 

Col. Robert E. Noble, of the Surgeon General's Office, made a report for the Com- 
mittee on Hospitals. 

Dr. Otto P. Geier reported for the Committee on Industrial Medicine and Surgery. 

Dr. William H. Welch presented the report of the Committee on Nursing. 

Mr^. Greely spoke briefly with regard to securing rank for nurses. 

Col. Frank Billings, of the Surgeon General's Otiice, reported upon reconstruction 
work. 

Dr. Rosalie Slaughter Morton reported for the Committee of Women Physicians. 

(Owing to the lack of time, reports of all the Committees of the General Medical 
Board were not called for. The reports are to be printed for general distribution.) 

o 



IlillBiwInm • 

020 933 488 4 



